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Eldest
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Read Eldest
Inheritance Cycle: Book 2

Eldest (2005) (edit title/settings)

by Christopher Paolini (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Darkness falls. ... Swords clash. ... Evil reigns. ...
Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in magic... read more

Summary edit see section history

Eldest begins as Ajihad, the leader of the rebel Varden force, is ambushed and killed, with Murtagh gone while Ajihad's other guards are assumed dead. At his funeral, Ajihad's daughter Nasuada is elected to command the Varden. The protagonists Eragon and Saphira then decide to travel to the... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Eldest begins as Ajihad, the leader of the rebel Varden force, is ambushed and killed, with Murtagh gone while Ajihad's other guards are assumed dead. At his funeral, Ajihad's daughter Nasuada is elected to command the Varden. The protagonists Eragon and Saphira then decide to travel to the forest Du Weldenvarden to become trained as a Dragon Rider by the elves. Once there, Eragon meets Oromis and his dragon Glaedr, the only dragon and Rider secretly alive besides Eragon, Saphira and Galbatorix. Oromis and Glaedr, however, are both crippled, and so cannot fight Galbatorix and must hide to avoid Galbatorix hunting them down. Eragon and Saphira are taught the use of logic, magic theory, scholarship, and combat, among other things.
Meanwhile, Nasuada chooses to move the Varden from Tronjheim to Surda, to mount an attack on the Empire. The Varden suffers financial troubles, however, until Nasuada learns that she can create an expensive lace with magic, and sell it at extremely low rates. One night when Nasuada is in her room, a character named Elva saves her from an assassination attempt. Elva is enchanted, and locates the assailant, who is killed after unwillingly surrendering information to Varden magicians about a subversive group based in Surda called the Black Hand, who is plotting to kill Nasuada. Nasuada later attends a meeting with key figures in Surda's government to discuss a potential upcoming battle against the Empire. They learn that the conflict is coming sooner than they initially suspected, and mobilize forces to attack, as well as sending for help from the dwarves.
In the meantime, Eragon continues to train, but is discouraged when the scar on his back causes him to have seizures multiple times per day. Later, at the ancient elven ceremony, the Agaetí Blödhren (Blood-Oath Celebration), Eragon is altered by a spectral dragon. The changes alter his senses, and enhance his abilities, as well as healing all of his wounds. Reinvigorated, Eragon continues training until he learns that the Empire will soon attack the Varden in Surda. Dismayed, he leaves without completing his training, to aid the Varden in battle.
Meanwhile, Roran is hunted by the Ra'zac in Carvahall. He eventually persuades the entire village to attack the Ra'zac in the night, and succeeds in driving them off. After more conflicts with the village, the Ra'zac manage to kidnap Katrina, Roran's fiancée. Roran then stirs the village to mobilize, departing on a journey to join the Varden in Surda. He leads them to Narda, and then by sea to Teirm. In Teirm, they meet Jeod, who helps them pirate a new vessel from Teirm. Pursued by sloops from the Empire, the vessel manages to escape through a whirlpool, and eventually makes it to Surda, arriving just as the Battle of the Burning Plains is about to begin between Surda and its allies, and the Empire.
When the conflict begins, Eragon is able to repel the opposing army using magic. Eventually, a Dragon Rider appears in favor of the Empire. The hostile Dragon Rider kills the dwarf king Hrothgar, and soon begins to fight with Eragon. The Dragon Rider is soon unmasked by Eragon and is revealed to be Murtagh. Murtagh tells Eragon that he was kidnapped and forced into loyalty by Galbatorix after a dragon hatched for him. Murtagh outmatches Eragon, but shows mercy due to their old friendship. Before leaving, Murtagh reveals that Eragon is his brother, and takes Eragon's sword as well. Ultimately, Galbatorix's army is forced to retreat after the arrival of the dwarves and the departure of Murtagh and Thorn. In the end, Eragon and Roran decide that they will seek out Katrina together.

Characters edit see section history

  • Eragon: Protagonist; a young boy who grew up in Carvahall with his uncle Garrow and cousin Roran. After finding a polished blue "stone" he becomes a Dragon Rider and eventually joins the Varden, a group of rebels fighting the Empire and it's cruel king, Galbatorix.
  • Saphira: A blue dragon bonded for life to Eragon. She is bloodthirsty for revenge for the murder of her entire race, save for herself and two other dragons that remain in Galbatorix's control.
  • Galbatorix: Dragon Rider and ruler of Alagaesia. His dragon is Shruikan. His first dragon was killed and he used dark magic to acquire a second. He led the destruction of the rest of the Dragon Riders.
  • Angela: A delightfully eccentric witch who supports the Varden. She is acquainted with (though not the owner of) a werecat, named Solembum. She is a very gifted herbalist and can fortell a person's future, albeit vaguely and with as much mystery as possible.
  • Islanzadi: Queen of the elves.
  • Oromis: An elf who helps train Eragon and Saphira. A qualified teacher.
  • Glaedr: He works with Oromis to train Eragon and Saphira. He has a short temper.
  • Gilderien the Wise: Wielder of the White Flame, guardian of Ellesmera
  • Garzhvog: The Kull leader who helps the Varden when it is learned that he was deceived by Galbatorix.
  • Elva: An orphan girl among the Varden for whom a blessing by Eragon has unforeseen results.
  • Ajihad: Leader of the Varden and father of Nasuada (deceased).
  • Orik: Dwarf friend to Eragon and heir to King Hrothgar. He travels with Eragon as representative of the Dwarves.
  • Arya: Ambassador for the Elves to the Varden; served as a dragon egg courier between the Elves and the Varden for 15 years.
  • Roran: Carvahall native, son of Garrow, and cousin to Eragon. He grows to become a leader.
  • Katrina: Daughter of Sloan; Roran's beloved.
  • Shruikan: Galbatorix's dragon. Black. Not really his dragon - Shruikan was stolen as a hatchling. He is kept under many spells to keep him in check.
  • King Hrothgar: King of the dwarves. He adopted Orik as his son. Made Orik heir to the throne.
  • Nasuada: Daughter of Ajihad.
  • Murtagh: Eragon's friend. Loathes the Empire. He is also wanted by the Empire.
  • Sloan: Katrina's father. Carvahall's butcher (former)
  • Horst: Carvahall native, Horst is the blacksmith who took Roran in after Garrow died and Eragon left.
  • Elain: Horst's wife
  • Albriech: Horst's and Elain's son
  • Baldor: Horst's and Elain's son
Show all 24 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Live in the present, remember the past, and fear not the future, for it doesn't exist and never shall. There is only now.”
    Saphira
  • “Why, little one, you just said something wise.”
    Saphira
  • “Life is both pain and pleasure. If this is the price you must pay for the hours you enjoy, is it too much?”
  • “Never ask an elf for help; they might decide that you'er better off dead, eh?”
    Orik
  • “The magic in my blood drives me to protect people from pain. . . no matter the injury to myself or whether i want to help or not. It costs me dearly if I resist the urge.”
    Elva
  • “Those who we love are often the most alien to us.”
    Oromis
  • “The songs of the dead are the lamentations of the living.”
    Eragon
  • “When you can have anything you want by uttering a few words, the goal matters not, only the journey to it.”
    Rhunon
  • “"How inaccurate can a person be? .........let me tell you something blockhead:anyone who is stupid enough to do what you did deserves-" Eragon clasped his hands behind his back and waited as Angela informed him, in many explicit, detailed, and highly inventive terms, exactly how great a blockhead he was; what kind of ancestors he must possess to be such a monumental block head-she even went so far as to insinuate that one of his grandparents had mated with an Urgal - and the quite hideous punishments he ought to receive for his idiocy. if anyone else had insulted him in this manner, Eragon would have challenged them to a duel.......”
    angela/narrarator
  • “If any honor existed in war, he concluded, it was in fighting to protect others from harm.”

Setting & Locations edit see section history

Alagaësia
Show all 17 settings

Organizations edit see section history

  • Varden: This is a group of people founded by previous Dragon Riders,who are against the evil plan of Galbatorix.They seek the help of a Rider who will help them in their fight against the evil king.
  • Kull: Elite of the Urgals, taller and stronger than normal Urgals
  • Du Vragr Gata: The Varden's group of magicians

First Sentence edit see section history

The songs of the dead are the lamentations of the living.

Table of Contents edit see section history

1. A Twin Disaster
2. The Council of Elders
3. Truth Among Friends
4. Roran
5. The Hunted Hunters
6. Saphira’s Promise
7. Requiem
8. Fealty
9. A Sorceress, A Snake, and a Scroll
10. Hrothgar’s Gift
11. Hammer and Tongs
12. Retaliation
13. Az Sweldn rak Anhûin
14. Celbedeil
15. Diamonds in the Night
16. Under a Darkling Sky
17. Down the Rushing Mere-Wash
18. Drifting
19. Arya Svit-Kona
20. Ceris
21. Wounds of the Past
22. Wounds of the Present
23. His Enemy’s Face
24. Arrow to the Heart
25. The Dagshelgr Invocation
26. The Pinewood City
27. Queen Islanzadí
28. Out of the Past
29. Conviction
30. Repercussions
31. Exodus
32. On the Crags of Tel’naeír
33. The Secret Lives of Ants
34. Under the Menoa Tree
35. A Maze of Opposition
36. Hanging by a Thread
37. Elva
38. Resurgence
39. Why Do You Fight?
40. Black Morning Glory
41. The Nature of Evil
42. Image of Perfection
43. The Obliterator
44. Narda
45. The Hammer Falls
46. The Beginning of Wisdom
47. Broken Egg and Scattered Nest
48. The Gift of Dragons
49. In a Starry Glade
50. Landfall
51. Teirm
52. Jeod Longshanks
53. An Unexpected Ally
54. Escape
55. Child’s Play
56. Premonition of War
57. Red Blade, White Blade
58. Visions Near and Far
59. Gifts
60. The Maw of the Ocean
61. Running the Boar’s Eye
62. To Aberon
63. The Burning Plains
64. The Clouds of War
65. Nar Garzhvog
66. Witch’s Brew
67. The Storm Breaks
68. Convergence
69. Eldest
70. Inheritance
71. Reunion

Glossary edit see section history

  • Brisingr: Fire.
  • Agaetí Blödhren: Blood-oath Celebration. Elves have it every year to celebrate their pact with the dragons. big celebration almost every elf is in attendance
  • Argetlam: "Silver hand" used to refer to the Riders
  • Bjartskular: "Bright scales"; used to refer to Eragon's dragon, Saphira.
  • Dagshelgr: Hallowed Day; a day during which the elves sing in ancient words to cause the forest to grow and renew.
  • draumr kòpa: "dream stare"; a spell that allows a person to see events in another place, so long as the spell-caster has seen what he/she wishes to see.
  • Du Vrangr Gata: "The Wandering Path"; the name of the magic users in the Varden
  • Du Weldenvarden: "The Guarding Forest"; the name of the forest the elves reside in
  • Du Fyrn Skulblaka: "The Dragon War"; the war with dragons and elves before the Riders came into being.
  • Gedwey Ignasia: "Shining palm"; the Gedway Ignasia is the marking left on the hand of a rider after he or she makes first contact to their newly hatched Dragons
  • Varden: "the warders"; the organization that apposes the king
  • lethrblaka: the Raz'ac's mounts; literally means "leather-flapper"
  • skulblaka: dragon; literally means "scale-flapper"
  • Zar'ac: "misery"; the name of Morzan's sword
  • Wyrdfell: Elven name for the Forsworn
  • Farthen Dur: "Our Father" in Dwarvish
  • Ingeitum: fire workers and smiths; name of the clan that is currently ruling all the clans
  • Isidar Mithrim: Star Rose
  • knurl: stone; rock
  • knurla: Dwarf; literally, one of stone
Show all 20 glossary entries

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 2 of 4 in Inheritance Cycle. (standard series)

Preceded by Eragon, and followed by Brisingr.

This is book 70 of 194 in Shelfari Most Popular (December 2010). (authoritative list)

Preceded by Five Point Someone, and followed by The Glass Castle.

This is book 68 of 195 in Shelfari Most Popular (June 2010). (authoritative list)

Preceded by Atlas Shrugged, and followed by Marley & Me.

This is book 74 of 195 in Shelfari Most Popular (June 2011). (authoritative list)

Preceded by The Glass Castle, and followed by Night.

This is book 77 of 195 in Shelfari Most Popular (December 2011). (authoritative list)

Preceded by Night, and followed by Love in the Time of Cholera.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Christopher Paolini (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. John Jude Palencar (Cover Artist)
  2. Karmen Vidmar (Translator)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Aflred A. Knopf
Country: USA
Publication Date: August 23, 2005
ISBN: 978-0-375-84040-1
Page Count: 681

Awards edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PZ7.P19535 El 2006 FT MEADE
  • Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

Contains violence and gore, as well as romance.

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

  • Alagaesia: The official site of the Inheritance Cycle

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Eragon
  • Brisingr
  • Inheritance
  • Inkspell
  • Inkdeath
  • Inkheart
  • His Majesty's Dragon

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • Eragon

Books That Influenced This Book edit see section history

   
  • Eragon

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